Letter: Wind Power and Wildlife

Thank you for your voice of reason in the March 23 editorial challenging Jeff Wolfe’s effort at political hardball in the Vermont debate over renewable energy policy. This debate, which is raging in New Hampshire as much as it is in Vermont, has too often been an exchange of passionate assertions rather than objective analysis that separates fact from fallacy to carefully balance valid competing interests.

Those interested in learning more on this subject relative to wind power and one of the competing interests — the protection of wildlife — might like to attend “Wind Power and Wildlife” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, sponsored by the Howe Library and New Hampshire Audubon Society’s Mascoma Chapter. New Hampshire Audubon scientist Carol Foss will draw on her experience both as a conservation scientist assessing the wildlife impact of various wind power sites in New Hampshire, and as an advocate representing New Hampshire Audubon before the state’s Site Evaluation Commission when a wind power project was proposed for the ridgeline overlooking New Hampshire Audubon’s uniquely pristine Willard Pond Sanctuary in Antrim.

As a strong supporter of renewable energy in general and wind power in particular, New Hampshire Audubon has had to do its own balancing of competing interests in weighing the negative impact of that particular wind power site on the inspirational experience of engagement with nature in an otherwise completely undeveloped and well-protected natural setting.

It should be an interesting evening.

Arthur Mudge

Hanover

CORRECTION

The “Wind Power and Wildlife” presentation, in which New Hampshire Audubon Society conservation scientist Carol Foss will discuss the impact of New Hampshire wind power sites on wildlife, will be given on Tuesday, April 23, at 7 p.m. at the Howe Library. An earlier version of this letter gave the wrong date of the event.

The reputation of Vermont as the home of genteel politics took a hit recently when prominent environmentalist and businessman Jeff Wolfe delivered an unmistakable message to state Sen. John Campbell of Hartford that the game being played is hardball — or maybe moneyball. In a letter posted on Facebook earlier this month, Wolfe, co-founder and board chairman of White River …

The “Wind Power and Wildlife” presentation, in which New Hampshire Audubon Society conservation scientist Carol Foss will discuss the impact of New Hampshire wind power sites on wildlife, will be given on Tuesday, April 23, at 7 p.m. at the Howe Library. A March 27 Forum letter gave the wrong date of the event. …